Justice must decide this Tuesday – Liberation
Will Israel be represented at International aeronautical and space fair (SIAE) from Le Bourget? Several associations, including AttacStop Fuelling War, Survival, Europalestine, the Palestinian NGO Al-Haq and the French Jewish Union for Peace asked during a summary audience on Wednesday, June 4, the exclusion of Israeli companies that participate in the « Massive commission of international crimes » of the event which must be held from June 16 to 22. The Bobigny court is due to decide this Tuesday, June 10.
Associations demanded that justice force, urgently, Siaesubsidiary of the group of French aeronautical and spatial industries (GIFA) in « Take all measures in its power to prevent the promotion or reception of companies, delegations or intermediaries likely to participate in the perpetuation of the crimes committed by Israel ». The Bobigny court has given itself a short week to study the request and give its decision. « We are faced with worst crimes which can exist in our penal code. They can only lead by the aid and assistance provided by a certain number of entities and events, such as this fair ”had attacked Me Dominique Cochain on Wednesday, on behalf of the associations.
The lawyer had argued the risk of « Imminent damage »by saying: « If we do not put an end to these arms sales, these armaments promotions (…), with Israeli companies which unwaver the military operation carried out in Gaza, the damage already noted can only worsen in absolutely dramatic conditions ». Since the attack on October 7, 2023 which had left 1,218 Israeli dead, the Hebrew State has led bloody reprisals to Gaza, which caused nearly 55,000 people according to data from the Hamas Ministry of Health, deemed reliable by the UN.
In addition to the exclusion of Israeli companies from the show, Cochain asked « Declarations on the part of other societies, of all nationalities, to attest that they do not support the Israeli war effort ». Me Matteo Bonaglia, who also pleaded for associations on Wednesday, deplored that Israeli companies present at the show can « Make the effectiveness of their war material tested in Gaza ». The presence of at least nine exhibitors of the Hebrew State is planned, with a stand for the Ministry of Defense. « Authorizing Israel to participate in the 55th edition of the Bourget Fair is to continue to feed the war machine, but also to legitimize and reward the abuses committed by the Israeli army in Gaza, in the West Bank, in Lebanon and elsewhere »wrote on its website on its website the Human Rights League, which supports the requests of associations.
SIAE lawyer, Me Sylvain Pavillet, said the associations asked justice « To enter into a political debate ». « We cannot suggest that Israel does not enjoy a right of self -defense, it is not up to you to judge whether this self -defense is proportionate », he launched to the magistrates. Before asserting that about the accusations of genocide in Gaza, « We are at the investigation stage, in no case proof ». “Measures for restricting business participation in fairs are acts of a government. You are asked to replace the government to impose them ”told court Me Pavillet.
Benyamin Netanyahu had announced on January 26 that Emmanuel Macron had « Promised (…) that Israeli companies could participate » lounge. The Elysée had specified a little later that their presence could be « favorably examined, as a result of the ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon ”.
SIAE is organized every two years. Last year, the presence of Israeli Defense industrialists at the World Defense and Security Show Eurosatory in Villepinte (Seine-Saint-Denis) was canceled by decision of the French government, after the murderous bombing of a camp of displaced by the Israeli army. But there justice had invalidated this ban and suspended the ban on exposing.
